The Elisabeth Chronicles: July 2019

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

What's Up July

Happy Wednesday Y'all

By the time this post goes "live," I'll be at the Birmingham, Alabama airport, heading back to Senegal, after a really nice 6 1/2 weeks in Alabama, sharing about my ministry (work) in Senegal and spending time with my family.

Anywho - On with the post.

Today, I'm joining Shay, and Sheaffer for their What's Up Wednesday link-up.

Every month we answer the same list of questions based on how things are currently going in our lives.

The questions are...

What am I eating?

I've eaten all sorts of good ol' American goodness. And the best part has been enjoying this goodness with family and friends along the way.

What am I reminiscing about?

How 10 years ago, yesterday, I landed in Senegal for the very first time. I was a week shy of turning 24. Just a baby... :)

What am I loving?

I'm loving that I'll have a bit of extra time to tackle the major process of setting up my classroom again after a long summer of everything crowded in the middle of the room like this... I have big ideas for my room and I'm looking forward to rearranging and making this room work for the students God is sending my way this year.

What have I been up to?

I was back in the US for just shy of 7 weeks. And in that time, I had 8 services at churches all around my sweet home Alabama, giving me lots of times to share my heart for Dakar Academy and Senegal and all of the incredible children that God is allowing me to teach. So I spent quite some time on the road with my favorite roadtrip buddy, hanging out with family, speaking at churches, and seeing a few sites along the way.

What am I dreading?

Well, the goodbyes I said this morning to my favorites weren't fun...

But past that... As much as I love getting back into the routine of things with the beginning of the school year, I must say that I am not necessarily looking forward to having to set that 5 a.m. alarm every single morning :)

What am I working on?

I'm still working on Kids Club Curriculum/Lesson Prep and I'm also working on prep for the Drama Team, too. I'm looking forward to implementing some new things in both of these programs this coming school year.

What am I excited about?

It’s always exciting to see how God lays my ministry (and me) on the hearts and minds of individuals and churches. This summer was no different. I am so incredibly overwhelmed by the generosity and love shown by so many different people this summer.

What am I watching?

I've honestly watched very little TV this summer.

What am I reading?

I've been reading up a storm this month. I guess I was making up for not doing so much last month. Anywho - I'm planning to share a Reading Recap style post soon. So I'll wait to share until that post...

What am I listening to?

I've loved hearing some good ol' hymns at a few of the churches I've spoken at this summer. I've loved reconnecting with that part of my past.

What am I wearing?

I'm wearing flip flops while I still can. Our Staff Dress Code was changed for the upcoming school year, leaving us unable to wear flip flops, except for on casual Fridays. So I bought a few pairs of inexpensive dress shoes (thank you Wal-Mart) while in the States and brought them back with me.

What am I doing this weekend?

I'll probably be working in my classroom, setting it up for the new school year. Or I might be crashing and sleeping. Who knows? :)

What am I looking forward to next month?

My birthday, of course!

And past that, I'm looking forward to school starting, getting back into a routine, meeting my new students, seeing my "old" students again, seeing friends and co-workers again, Kids Club starting back, starting to lead Drama, and all the other things that go along with the beginning of the school year.

What else is new?

How about this photo of me matching with my nieces for a Vacation Bible School event we went to and I spoke at? It's new and they're adorable :)

Oh, I have a new look now, too. I got my hair cut the other day. And I love it!

And that's what I'm up to this month.

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?

A Decade Ago

Today is a big day. It's my Senegal-iversary.

I stepped foot on Senegalese soil for the very first time on this day, exactly 10 years ago. Y'all... That's a decade! How is that even possible?!

Life has changed so much in that amount of time. I've gotten older. And I'd like to think I've gotten wiser, as well. I know I've become more confident in my abilities as a missionary and a teacher.

10 years ago, my dad and I loaded my suitcases in the car and headed to the airport in Atlanta, where I said a tearful goodbye to my family. Why'd I do it?

I was going for one reason...

I was going to fulfill the call God had placed on my life.

God had called me to be a Missionary Teacher.

He had graciously allowed me to help further His Kingdom through education.

I was so young that first year. Honestly, I worried about that first class. I worried that I wouldn't be the teacher they needed. I worried that I would fail them. I worried so much... But you know, it really wasn't that bad. And I am so, over the moon, proud of those students (and yes, proud of me too). I loved watching them grow as the years went by. I loved seeing them shine in sports and musicals, in Drama and academics, in ministry and in life. I loved it!

And not just them.

I've taught 100+ students over the years. The majority of those students being at Dakar Academy, that school I crossed the Atlantic for a decade ago...

And y'all...

I am so, incredibly blessed to call each and every one of them "mine." I'm thankful that God led me to leave the comforts of "home" behind, sacrificing time with family and friends, leaving so much behind, all so I could love on those 100+ kids.

I'm thankful for each classroom.

I'm thankful for each child.

I'm thankful for each opportunity I've had to learn and grow, to nurture and encourage, to teach and to love. I'm thankful for each opportunity I've had to share the love of our Heavenly Father and the Truth of His Word.

I'm thankful for the past 10 years.

And I look forward to however many more God has for me.

I love being a part of the Assemblies of God World Missions Department.

I love being a part of Dakar Academy.

I love being Ms. Nichols, a Missionary Teacher, just following her Savior around the world to her "home away from home," and doing what God has called me to do.

Thanks for the past 10 years Senegal.

It's been awesome!

Monday, July 8, 2019

Currently

Happy Monday Y'all

Today I'm joining Anne from In Residence for her monthly link-up, where we share what's currently going on in our lives. And even though I’m a few days late, I still wanted to join in on the fun :)

Each month, Anne gives us a list of prompts to use to guide our posts.

July's prompts are...

* reading * enjoying * finding * tasting * saving *

I'm currently reading a lot about Autism, as required by the class I’m taking. So far, I’m loving this clas!

I'm currently enjoying having so much family time. I love what I do. I love being able to fulfill the ministry God has called me to. I love my school and my students. BUT I still miss my family. So I am definitely so very grateful for this time I have to spend with them.

I'm currently finding it funny that my dad’s been dead 4 years, yet he’s still getting mail like this, addressed to him. I wonder how much life insurance costs for a dead man... It makes my mom and me laugh every single time something like this comes in the mail :)

I'm currently tasting all sorts of deliciousness as I’m on the road and eating out with my Mama so much.

I'm currently saving all sorts of memory producing pictures on my phone, ready to print out and take back overseas with me.

And then, because it's my blog, and I can... Here are a few more currently's to add to the fun :)

I'm currently using a new tote bag that I bought at Cracker Barrel last week. I debated buying it. I felt I couldn't justify spending the money on myself. But after describing it to my mom, she reminded me that I'm willing to quickly shell out money for others and that it's okay to treat myself to a "prize" every now and then. So I did :)